Final answer:
Low-level radioactive waste includes items like contaminated tools, while high-level waste is primarily spent nuclear fuel, requiring different disposal methods. The U.S. lacks a permanent high-level waste disposal facility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Low-level radioactive wastes typically include contaminated tools, protective clothing, wiping cloths, and other items with trace amounts of radioactive substances often found in nuclear fuel processing facilities and power plants. These items are regulated to ensure safe handling, storage, and disposal to prevent environmental contamination.
On the other hand, high-level radioactive waste is mainly composed of spent nuclear fuel from reactors. This waste is solid fuel pellets contained within metal tubes known as rods. After being used for electricity generation, these spent fuel rods are stored in water-filled pools or dry storage containers designed to shield radiation and cool the waste.
A key difference is the level of radioactivity and the disposal methods required. While low-level waste can sometimes be stored onsite and safely encapsulate, high-level waste often requires deep geological repositories, which are more complex to manage safely over the long term. Currently, the United States does not have a permanent disposal facility for high-level nuclear waste.